DEmery - Posted - 03/21/2014:  16:28:29

Doug that mandolin was picked up on a trade from a fellow in Scotchbush, New York and was purchased new in Schenectady January 1975. I saw him perform with it at Cafe' Lena in Saratoga Springs and it was dragged all over the northeast for 30 years. It was ripe with buckle digs and general wear one might expect. He used this mandolin in trade against a nice piece I picked up earlier that year; and to round up the trade he included a beautiful F 4 Gibson from about 1920 in outstanding condition. Both mandolins are gone now. John Balch owns the F-4 and the F-5 is used by a player up in Virginia. That money was used along with several sales of banjos to fuel banjo builds over the past three years. As they say....good trade. It allowed me to use builders from Knowles, Burns, Romero, Sproull, Seeders, and Hargis to feed my banjo appetite. David E.     

guitarman8491 - Posted - 03/21/2014:  16:45:32

Dave, that is very cool story. Having banjo's from Dan and the other major custom builders is a treasure.

Kaelri - Posted - 03/21/2014:  18:08:26

Dave, thanks for sharing those mando pictures with us. I just love the tone of the wood on the back of the body of the mandolin. 

Dan Knowles - Posted - 03/24/2014:  18:47:52

Rubicon,

I'd love to use Bill's tuners on this one. This banjo will be a slothead and so will require a different type of tuner than on the Galileo banjo.

Dave,

When I get back from this trip I try and remember to shoot a photo of that.

 Scott,

I've got almost everything ready for the crazy tunneled fifth glue up. I'm hoping to be able to do that tomorrow so that I ca really get to making sawdust with this one!

David,

Thank you for posting the photos of that F5 which I worked on for you. I had forgotten just how beautiful that quilt is on its back.  I've only built about a dozen mandolins over the years but it is a challenge that I enjoy. This one is already moving along at a good pace. The body is ready for binding.

Doug,

I don't remember where I first learned about using the silicone and the Teflon tape. abut since I started I've had no trouble wit rattling. Remember you need to cut your t-rod slots just as tight as you can, no slop, if you want the truss rod to do its work. The tape and silicone only eliminate rattles. Also make sure you remove any trace of silicone and cover the top of the channel with a strip of tape otherwise the glue won't stick.

guitarman8491 - Posted - 03/24/2014:  19:00:19

Dan, thanks for the advice. I have not had any issues with rattles so far.. but will go the silicone route in the future. Better to do belt an suspenders than have an issue and have to remove the FB.

Dan Knowles - Posted - 03/24/2014:  19:14:23

MONDAY,

TIME FOR A SHORT BREATHER

This has been a very busy several days for me. I have been burning the candle at both ends and in the middle trying to have every thing ready before the trip to Vicksburg on Wednesday. It seams like everybody, their brother and cousin desires to have something ready before I leave. Add to that the stuff I need to do here at home and... but you know what, I'm making it and I think that everything promised will be complete and that feels great! 

A few catch up photos...

From Saturday, luthin' (not lootin' Virgil!). Eric finishing the final setup on his new guitar and Kevin (Steve) ...I'm not sure what he's doin' but I got a photo of him doin' it!

Jason showin' off his newly glued up backset!

From today... my grandson Caleb worries as Sophie gives the the camera the evil eye!

Here is a newly completed painting in our newly completed bathroom, reflected in our new mirror  in our...

And a portrait of me by artist John Monroe just where I belong!!! This way my wife Debbie can't forget me!

More Soon!!!

guitarman8491 - Posted - 03/25/2014:  12:54:59

Your Grandson needs to be holding a banjo! I have a picture of my oldest grandson Nathaniel holding a Banjo an trying to strum it when he was about Caleb's age. So grandpa made him something and the next time we saw him, I presented him with a banjo ukulele...he loved it.

Dan Knowles - Posted - 03/25/2014:  19:37:53

Doug,

I couldn't agree more! Caleb has one in his future. 

guitarman8491 - Posted - 03/26/2014:  06:43:18

Wait a few years an he will be alongside of you on stage and in the shop..building with grandpa!

Kaelri - Posted - 03/26/2014:  19:06:53

My husband and I both think that your bathroom looks great. It sure is nice to knock another project off the to-do list, huh?

Dan Knowles - Posted - 03/31/2014:  18:05:28

Doug,

I agree and I hope so!

Ellen,

Thank you so much!

Dan Knowles - Posted - 03/31/2014:  18:47:51

WEDNESDAY - MONDAY

Hay friends, we are finally back home after an eventful cruise on the Queen of the Mississippi. We were out on the tour with Danny Conger ( fiddle), Eddie Coffey (bass, guitar) and Tim May (mandolin, guitar & dobro). This is how it went;

Tuesday evening after teaching my banjo, mandolin and guitar students I came home and greeted Eddie & Tim who came to Paris to spent the night. We laughed and talked way too late and got up way too early.  It is wonderful to have such friends. Danny met us and after loading up the van we ate breakfast and hit the long road at 7 AM. Outside it was a balmy 23 degrees. We drove down to Vicksburg (a trip of about 7 1/2 hours) and the Queen where it was a wonderful 61!

Here is my pal Tim May at a Wendy's in Tunica, MS.

On the Queen Eddie put my little guitar into DADGAD tuning! He loves that tuning and every guitar we carry gets put in it at least once a trip!

And here is Danny Conger just a kickin' back.

Thursday morning we did a banjo lesson where 20 + new banjo players were birthed! David Emery do you recognize this banjo? This bunch did a wonderful job of learning the frailing lick. One and Two and...

We performed as a band on Thursday evening and on Friday morning to awonderful excited audience. There is nothing like performing! There is nothing like making new friends!

The Queen made great time and we arrived in Memphis on Friday very early in the morning. This is the  Memphis riverfront at 6 AM.

Unfortunaly Tim and Danny had to head back home leaving Eddie and I to troop on alone for the down bound trip. So we went up to the top of the landing to await the enterprise rental car. A new friend Tony from Australia shot this photo for us. Thanks Tony!

The Queen of the Mississippi at the Memphis Beal Street landing.  The Interstate 40 bridge is in the background.

Saturday I saw the Memphis Queen passing under the railroad bridge and I felt just like Huck Finn...

More of the Trip Tomorrow!

Dov_Israel - Posted - 03/31/2014:  19:36:57

Dan,

As one of the 20+ students on the Mississippi Queen, I have to tell you, the hook has been set. Thank you.

guitarman8491 - Posted - 03/31/2014:  19:39:14

Dan, Sounds like you and your friends had a wonderful time. The pictures were great. You had a large number of students I see. Great to have you back!

Dan Knowles - Posted - 04/01/2014:  05:23:31

Jarod,

It was great to meet you and your family on the Queen! There is nothing like sharing a meal and banjos!

Doug,

It's great to be back! There'll be more from the Queen soon!

Kaelri - Posted - 04/01/2014:  06:35:32

quote:

---

Originally posted by Dov_Israel

Dan,



As one of the 20+ students on the Mississippi Queen, I have to tell you, the hook has been set. Thank you.

---

Jarod, Welcome to the Journey of Banjo! 

Dan Knowles - Posted - 04/01/2014:  19:08:25

Ellen,

I second that emotion!

Dan Knowles - Posted - 04/01/2014:  19:49:16

SOPINA SOLAS

Saveronah a davilon de sona. En sogonai watel nas. Sofornia ona California toda sota na fueago. Afret dords ewa dolt enoenon titit. Soon no one new. Lirpa ecivres nennt. Stnemeriuquer asa snalp miuminim lintzofonah. Choose a number 1-2-3-4

Otop owt... No osay!

Savionah de Huchk Finnin en da stobinah...

Happy April Fools Day!

Dan Knowles - Posted - 04/01/2014:  19:56:19

BACK HOME ON TUESDAY

I got to tell ya, this was an absolutely amazingly beautiful spring day here in my hometown, Paris, Tennessee. The sky was an April blue, shining over a 77 degree day. What a day for wondering by foot around the courthouse square, to the post office and on to my shop.

I do hope that this great weather will sneak up to all my friends in the great north country and ease that snow and ice away.

Today was a teaching day...

So I'll finish up with the Memphis - Vicksburg leg of my latest trip. The weather was so wonderful for traveling too! Steaming south we were watching the trees become more and more green. Life is great heading into the land where the spring has already sprung.

Up around Helena, Arkansas I saw this barge. It was such a pretty north bound tow. All trimmed with green. It is some type of a fuel barge.

It is amazing the amount of traffic on the Mississippi. Most folks don't realize this but our barges provide the most efficient mode of transport of freight that we have in this country. A barge can transport more tonnage of freight per gallon of fuel than any other method.

BANJO CLASS TIME!!!

Our new BHO friend Jarod (Dov Israel) is in the back row, far left with the big happy grin on his face! This was one of the best classes I have ever taught!

Eddie and I were joined by Toots Malloy, the Queen's river laureate. We went hunting the remains of General Grants cannel. The cannel was dug to (hopefully) bypass Vicksburg with the Mississippi river.... It was one idea that didn't work although the soldiers who dug it sure did.

On the way back to the Queen we saw the home of Fannie Vick Wiles Johnson in Vicksburg. Fannie was a daughter of the founder who lent his name to the city. The house was built around 1900 and is called the Stained Glass Manor  due to the large amount of stained glass. All of the top floor windows appear to be so indulged.

Eddie and me havin' fun Sunday night workin'! The Pharoah banjo was doin' its thing!

The Queen of the Mississippi, Monday 6:30 AM tied up in Vicksburg landing on the Yazoo river.

More Tomorrow!

guitarman8491 - Posted - 04/02/2014:  04:29:10

Great pictures...must have been a lot of fun out on the river playing banjo an making music to people with a real appreciation. Monday we were supposed to get maybe a flurry of snow an ended up with 5 inches of snow. Late in the day temp reached 40 and yesterday 59, so we had a good day out in the shop and looking forward to 60 degrees today. Good day to do some hedge trimming an a little more work in the shop.

Enjoy the day everyone!

Dan Knowles - Posted - 04/02/2014:  18:53:02

Doug,

That sounds wonderful... enjoy your shop and watch the snow disappear

Dan Knowles - Posted - 04/02/2014:  19:18:49

PINE CONE DOTS-A-MILLION

Today I undid the clamps from pinecone's banjo neck, leveled everything out and started on installing the dots!

It's amazing how many holes one can drill in one day and how few dots one can actually fill! Still I'm not complaining... only reporting.

I have spent untold hours preparing dots and today I saw that that work will pay off. I have no idea how many dots I'll use before this project is complete.

Here is the neck blank with the fingerboard and peghead overlay being glued and under clamps.

As a reminder, here is what we will be aiming for except that the peghead will be a slothead.

Here I'm laying out the arias that I'll be working on today...

I have a lot of space to cover! Usually I inlay a carved and trued neck. Here I'm using the rectangular, unprofiled shape of the neck for stability...

First I went to the drill press and made these first holes...

The dots are first laid on top of the hole then driven in with a gentle tap of the hammer. Next the are flooded with cyno glue.

After the first batch a successive group of holes are drilled ...

After several drillings and fillings and level sanding at the end of the day this is what we have...

More Soon!

Paul Meredith - Posted - 04/02/2014:  19:39:59

It's coming along, can't wait to see the finished neck!  Endeavor to persevere, Mr. Knowles!

Pine Cone - Posted - 04/02/2014:  22:20:28

Pretty darn exciting to see the inlay start to take form!  I have no doubt that it will be a remarkable instrument.

BNJOMAKR - Posted - 04/03/2014:  02:39:52

This is way over the top, Dan!   

Dan Knowles - Posted - 04/03/2014:  05:04:49

Paul, Scott & Marvin,

Thanks. I've got a ways to go yet with at least another day of dotting in this lower section. And that will before the real detail work begins.

Nels - Posted - 04/03/2014:  05:22:12

add my   ....lookin' good!

Dave1climber - Posted - 04/03/2014:  06:31:22

Dot to Dot to Dot to looking great!!     

Dan you must have the patience of a saint, installing all of those dots would drive me dotty!!  

Dan Knowles - Posted - 04/03/2014:  19:15:33

Nels & Dave,

Thanks, I'm glad you like it! BTW I am Dotty!!!

Dan Knowles - Posted - 04/03/2014:  19:30:31

MORE DOTS ON THURSDAY

Todays title says it all...

The doting is going about like I expected. Today is day two on this lower aria. I figure to have the background (on this aria) complete sometime tomorrow. My intent is that the details will be added after the whole background is complete. This like many things could change as the project moves along. Soon it will be up and onwards... mostly up!

Here we are installing dots (what else) with one of the best helpers that a fella could ever hope for, my grandson Keaton.

This is to be an acoustic banjo so I use an acoustic drill! 

It really is interesting watching the color begin to build.

Gluing in copper dots...

Todays last photo of the fingerboard... 4:37 PM.

More tomorrow!!!

Dan Knowles - Posted - 04/03/2014:  19:32:45

I just noticed that we have reached 130,000 reads of this post....

I have to pinch myself! 

You folks are amazing!

Kaelri - Posted - 04/03/2014:  20:07:50

No Dan, your craftsmanship, beautiful banjo builds, attention to detail, giving the customer more than he asks for, and your unselfishness at taking the time to share all of this with us....well, that is what is amazing. This is one of my family's favorite places to "tune in" each night! 

Dave1climber - Posted - 04/04/2014:  07:49:00

Dan

With that look of intensity and focus, Keaton will be a instrument builder before long.

Dan Knowles - Posted - 04/05/2014:  05:27:19

Ellen, Thanks

Dave,

He may not become an instrument builder but he will be a builder of some type I am quite sure.

Edited by - Dan Knowles on 04/05/2014 05:27:38

Dan Knowles - Posted - 04/05/2014:  05:32:51

FRIDAY UPDATE

Just before I head off to the shop for the building teaching, here is a quick photo of yesterday's inlay project progress.

More Soon!

Dave1climber - Posted - 04/05/2014:  06:25:48

Those dots, WOW, and double WOW.

Noah Cline - Posted - 04/05/2014:  09:58:58

All those dots remind me of impressionism. Nice!

DEmery - Posted - 04/05/2014:  11:33:25

I am seeing spots Dan! Lots of work and I was chatting about that approach with a fellow yesterday and said it was like impressionist art too. It is the sort of design that makes you step back to see the effect. Oh...I saw your comment about the banjo being used in a photo back in your thread while reading back a page or two the other day. Yes...it is good to see the ebony wonder out there on the boat and making its rounds with you. How is she doing? David E.

Dan Knowles - Posted - 04/06/2014:  10:48:53

Dave,

Thanks, I'm glad you like it!

Noah & David,

These points of color are known in the art world as Pointallism. It is considered to be post-impressionism but I just love this approach to painting because of the spots of color. On a canvas I try to make the points have little peeks to form a nice texture. I like to try to make a painting not only inviting to the eye but also tempting to the touch.  Silly, I know, but it is what I like.  

George Seurat was the first and possibly the most famous proponent of this method. This is his painting A Sunday Afternoon on the Island of La Grande Jatte. 

David the ebony is working like a charm. I'm using it for all of my classes (on board) and on the solo banjo work. Like pointallism its tone is so very inviting to me. I can't remember if I told you that I changed the bridge out to one of Gaboon ebony. It tends to balance the tone of Fiberslin head that I'm having to use over the water. Yesterday I changed out my minstrel banjo  (that I carry with me for shows) to a Fiberskin head. I certainly don't like the tone as well. But the mylar will at least behave itself and allow me to play the thing on stage on the boat without going soft. 

guitarman8491 - Posted - 04/06/2014:  13:08:12

Dan..that finger board looks amazing...good thing ya have a young apprentice with good eyes!

Dan Knowles - Posted - 04/07/2014:  06:01:55

Doug,

Thanks! I do agree.

Yanni - Posted - 04/14/2014:  23:59:02

Wow! Page 4! I hope all is well Dan, we haven't heard from you for a while.
Ian

reckon16 - Posted - 04/15/2014:  12:25:45

Dan....the Seurat work is in the Art Institute in Chicago....well worth a trip up to view it in person. If you like Impressionists (and not just Pointillists), it's worth dragging the grandkids up here for some learning! :)

-Tony

Dan Knowles - Posted - 04/15/2014:  18:49:04

Ian,

I'm back! I've been out on the river with almost no internet to speak of, but now I'm home for a week at least.

Tony,

 I really like Impressionist work. In fact I own several by the great painter John Monroe.That is one trip we talk of doing, taking Amtrack up for a couple of days in Chicago. 

guitarman8491 - Posted - 04/15/2014:  19:27:37

Dan welcome back!

Dan Knowles - Posted - 04/15/2014:  19:29:21

TUESDAY

@ THE KITCHEN TABLE

I just got home last night from another trip on the Queen of the Mississippi with my bass playing bud Eddie Coffey. What a trip it was! 

We started out last Wednesday morning at 2:15 headed for Vicksburg, Mississippi.

We had to leave out so early because of Army Corps work around Greenville, Mississippi which limited the hours of travel in the channel on the Mississippi river.

This meant to make it through the window of opportunity the boat had to leave Vicksburg at 12 noon. So we left out way early (for us).

The good news is that we made it with time to spare.

The bad news is that we had very limited internet and so I was unable to post during the trip.

I've decided that on the next trip I'm going to prepare a half way post and upload it from a coffee shop in Memphis (when we are in port) on Friday or Saturday of the trip...

I hope that will work. 

Because I forgot my camera back in Paris at the shop, I began experimenting with alternate ways of making some photos for the Hangout.

Here I used the camera on my Mac computer....

this was in my room, just before the first show on Wednesday...

There are such interesting people who travel on this boat. On this trip we had several couples from Australia, England, Scotland and even one from Switzerland. 

My new Swiss friend ( the smiley feller in the back towards the left or port side) plays the alphorn an 11'+ long horn capable of at least one complete octave.

I'd love to hear him play it!

Thursday morning we gathered on the top or Texas deck for the banjo class, oh my but this bunch was great!

Sunday, teaching again, this time in the Sky Deck Lounge.

A guest named Ken captured this image (the one above, below and the one below that one) of my right hand showing correct clawhammer technique.

I can claim that cause I got the picture!

Another wonderful banjo picking group!

The lady (in pink & blue) right above my head, is from Huntington, Tennessee and is a very close friend to my great friends the Snows of Paris! 

What a small, small world!

This photo (another from Ken) is a favorite of mine. I'm playing the opening to a welcome aboard meeting on the Queen.

More real soon!

Dan Knowles - Posted - 04/15/2014:  19:35:14

Thank you Doug, it's great to be home!

Will1717 - Posted - 04/15/2014:  21:18:36

Dan:

I've been noticing that there always appears to be a disproportionate number of ladies in your banjo lessons group. Need a helper??

Bill Rickard  

Paul R - Posted - 04/15/2014:  21:31:13

quote:

---

Originally posted by Dave1climber

Dot to Dot to Dot to looking great!!     

Dan you must have the patience of a saint, installing all of those dots would drive me dotty!!  

---

Ditto! 

Really looking forward to see this one develop.

Dan, if you go to Chicago to view the Impressionists, circle east and north to Toronto (Art Gallery of Ontario), Ottawa (National Gallery of Canada), and Montreal (Montreal Museum of Fine Arts) for more. You'll be "Impressed", all right. And you can become acquainted with our own Group of Seven. I used to go downtown to the AGO on hot days and just stand in the Group of Seven room and marvel at their work.